The band just completed a round of tour dates on the east coast and maybe some of you made it out to see them? Hopefully you were able to pick up a record from them in person but if you didn’t make it to one of the shows, the album is available for order through our online store here: Order Big Hush vinyl

Big Hush released a video for their track “Cough” a few weeks back and you can watch it over at IMPOSE here if you didn’t catch it: Watch the video via IMPOSE today

“‘Cough’ is about being caught in a rut for so long that you lose touch with yourself and grow complacent about the shape of your life,” Big Hush says of the track. “The song is a plea that you could make to a friend, or yourself, to fight the easy temptation of viewing one’s identity as reducible, or static. We’re not as hard-wired as we think; we can always try to be better.”

NPR had this to say about Spirit/Wholes – “…features (appropriately) hushed vocals from all four members, cooing over a messy, punk-sick shoegaze. It can, from songs that read as intimately as notes passed between friends, make for quite the harmony-riddled racket.”

Originally envisaged as two separate albums, the ten tracks featured on Spirit/Wholes were recorded throughout 2014 and 2015. Embodying the sonic evolution of a band that has flourished with time, each track sears through dense textures and cloying harmonies with a scalding clarity. Big Hush had these comments on the album –

“Spirit/Wholes was written as two separate EPs over the span of three years, and in a way the songs are reactionary tales. That’s the way I’ve always thought of them. Each new song is a reaction to the song written before it, and the space that song inhibits, each void created by one song, is filled by the next, and so reveals a new void. The EPs seem to do the same. It’s funny, how a lot of things in life tend to embody a reactionary nature, capitalism is dictated by market reactions, relationships evolve dictated on reactions to each other, the weather reacts to changes in currents and temperature. This record is sort of an unintentional embodiment of that aspect, following a path of necessary change, in contrast to what’s always been familiar.”

In addition to the Big Hush album release, there were some great new additions and restocks to the online store the other week. Those lists are below so glance through them if you missed them the first time around, hopefully you can find something you’d like to pick up.

There are more upcoming Robotic Empire releases this fall so stay tuned! A repress of Pageninetynine’s Document 8 LP in time for their reunion shows, possibly a Pg.99 cassette and some T-shirts too. The Black Heart Procession have compiled all of their “Waiter” songs onto one album and have also written a new one! Tour dates are getting organized and I’ll announce as soon as I hear. Jesu’s – Ascension 2×12″ is going to happen this year, it’s just a matter of deciding exactly when it fits into the release schedule. More info to come as it develops. Thanks everyone and have a good rest of the summer.

City of Caterpillar announce their final US shows for this October. Their last US tour includes 14-dates and performances on both coasts, featuring shows alongside Thou, Touche Amore, Majority Rule and more:

Known for a unique combination of emotional hardcore punk mixed with cinematic soundscapes and rising crescendos, City of Caterpillar initially disbanded in 2003 following the release of their sole album + a demos/live collection. Receiving a posthumous popularity that’s come as some surprise to the members, guitarist/vocalist Brandon Evans commented in the recent Noisey feature on the group:

“We truly had no idea this interest was so strong and spanning. The internet was just coming about into the common life as we disbanded. We still had this mystery that carried charm from the world just prior; I feel maybe that was a factor attributing to the cult energy that built around us…”

That energy has been palpable throughout the 2017 reunion shows, which the band winds up alongside old friends and new.

All dates and locations as follows:

City of Caterpillar’s West Coast tour dates with Thou are part of a longer September/October tour for the Louisiana including stints with King Woman, Dreamdecay and Warning. Their full US tour dates are as follows:

Fresh off the announcement of their forthcoming debut album, dream pop quartet Big Hush has released a mind freak of a video for their track “Cough.” Taking a deep dive in the darker realms of their bedroom rock sound, the D.C. band combines pop songwriting with the opulence of shoegaze in one technicolored soundscape. Watch the video via IMPOSE today

“‘Cough’ is about being caught in a rut for so long that you lose touch with yourself and grow complacent about the shape of your life,” Big Hush says of the track. “The song is a plea that you could make to a friend, or yourself, to fight the easy temptation of viewing one’s identity as reducible, or static. We’re not as hard-wired as we think; we can always try to be better.”

Featuring members of Pygmy Lush and Flasher, Big Hush thrives in the gray area between harmony-laden melancholy, off-kilter punk, and cacophonous shoegaze. Fiercely embracing a collaborative spirit, Big Hush’s songs are imbued with the tension and tenderness requisite of intimate friendship.

Originally conceived as two separate albums, Big Hush’s debut LP, Spirit/Wholes, was recorded throughout 2014 and 2015. Chronicling a complex and gossamer aesthetic, the album’s ten tracks explore dense textures, complex arrangements and lush harmonies with a searing clarity. Now remastered for vinyl and including a brand new track, Spirit/Wholes has an official release date of August 11th and is available for pre-order now: Pre-Order the Big Hush Album Here

Big Hush vinyl is currently in house, so once all the Thou – Peasant shipment madness has settled, Big Hush orders will be packed and shipped ASAP. I hope you guys are as excited as I am for this one!

Last night the Peasant 2×12″ arrived so all pre-orders are being packed and shipped as fast as possible starting today. Thanks so much for the orders on that one! A new Thou shirt was printed up just for this Peasant release, it’s one of my favorite designs and there are still some in stock. A handful of the limited version of Peasant including a cloth patch are still available but the quantity is less then 10 copies at this time. If you want one of those jump on it now or go see those guys on tour, they just got their copies this week!

07.19.17 – Albuquerque at Moonlight Lounge (618 Central Avenue SW) at seven pm with Cognizant
07.20.17 – Dallas at Three Links (2704 Elm Street) at seven pm with Cognizant
07.21.17 – Austin at Lost Well (2421 Webberville Road) at eight pm with Communion
07.22.17 – New Orleans at First Unitarian Universalist Church (2903 Jefferson Avenue) at six pm with Silver Godling

As for the Robotic Empire Distro update, lots of great Bastard Noise releases have arrived thanks to that wonderful fellow Eric Wood! Import records and CDs are in stock from Gizeh Records in the UK. They put out high quality stuff from Aidan Baker, Nadja, and Rachel Grimes that you should certainly check out as there are only a few copies of each on hand at the moment. Tons of Flenser Records releases have been brought into the distro, some recent Expo 70 albums are here (I have only a few, all are on sold out colored vinyl so get them quick), restocks and new things from Kitty Play Records including Weasel Walter and Witches Of Malibu to name just two. Forest Swords, Bonnie Price Billy, Wooden Wand, on and on and on. Decent amount of restocks from Music Fear Satan including Jessica 93, Year Of No Light, Monarch, etc. etc. etc. Check the lists!

In addition to all this goodness there is a new Robotic Empire T-shirt in stock! Thank you Aaron Powers of New Antlers for the design. Aaron did a wonderful job of bringing a bunch of my random ideas and thoughts together into a coherent piece of art. I encourage you to check out his website, view more of his artwork and pick up a print or two that strikes your fancy. These new T-shirts are on Anvil brand lightweight shirts and screen printed by the always impressive, Broken Press in Seattle.

Please head on over to the Robotic Empire Online store and Pre-Order the Big Hush Album, grab some additional new tunes from the distro list and maybe you’ll be into the new Robo shirt too. If you haven’t picked up a copy of “Peasant”, now’s the time. Have a great rest of the summer everyone, more new releases in the pipeline! Pygmy Lush, Jesu, Pyrit, Black Heart Procession, Man Is The Bastard repress……………………………

Thanks for everyone’s patience with the Peasant pre-orders. Lot’s going on over here, many things to juggle and only 2 hands. I’m going to keep this short and sweet so let’s get into it!

Before THOU released their 2014 Gambit Big Easy Award winning, Summit, they spent the spring of 2008 rushing to complete their second full-length, Peasant, in time for a month and a half trek across the United States. This record would be their last true album to abandon melody for the self indulgent, “Southern” styled riffing that had most of their early fans saying, “I thought you’d be bigger with more tattoos and beards.”

Originally released on vinyl by Level Plane Records, this edition has been remastered by Adam Tucker (Signature Tone Recording) and housed in a tip-on style gatefold jacket with 180gram black vinyl and a 20 page booklet. This double LP also offers the complete version, including the CD-only tracks from the To Carry a Stone EP (released in 2008 by Noxious Noize) as well as bonus tracks from the Malfeasance/Retribution EP (released in 2008 on Feast of Tentacles and Rimbaud) and an unreleased cover of “Aneurysm.”

There are a limited number of copies that include a 9×3 screen printed cloth patch. These are only available through Robotic Empire and the band on tour. Thou will have their copies of Peasant starting on July 16th.

In addition to the re-issue we’ve printed up some fancy new T-shirts just for the Peasant release. I have to say, I’ve been waiting a long time to print this shirt, one of my favorite images and I hope you guys like it too. Printed on Bella Canvas shirts, made in the USA, there are sizes from Youth Large to Extra Large.

I’m expecting to have the Peasant albums in hand around the second week of July. Once those arrive I’ll be packing and shipping ASAP. Official release date is July 28th.

D.C. shoegaze marvels Big Hush have premiered the first single off their forthcoming debut album Spirit/Wholes. The quartet, featuring members of Pygmy Lush and Flasher, explores the intersections between harmony-laden melancholy, off-kilter punk, and cacophonous shoegaze. The opening track “Soft Eyes” is now streaming via NPR, who said “Big Hush’s ‘Soft Eyes’ Jangles Shoegaze In A Hall Of Mirrors”

Pretty damn stoked that longtime friends pageninetynine and Majority Rule are announcing a joint tour this September on the east coast. These two bands, hailing originally from northern Virginia, are reforming (in Majority Rule’s case, after thirteen years) for a special and urgent reason – to mobilize those concerned about the political climate in this country.

Each show will benefit a local grassroots organization on the frontlines fighting for civil rights, LGBT rights, youth rights, immigrant and refugee rights, and reproductive rights and justice.

Majority Rule and pageninetynine garnered a cult following in the 2000s, touring relentlessly in the U.S., Canada and Europe – often together. They released a split LP and at times shared members and vocal duties. In large part, the bands were fueled by a love of their community in northern Virginia.

Through these shows, they aim to share a broader love for community in general. Beneficiary organizations will be tabling and speaking at events, and members of the band are available for comment about why they are choosing to organize a series of DIY punk shows as a site of resistance. Not only do the bands want showgoers to attend – they hope people will walk away from these events with a sense of how they can participate in building communities where people stand up for others through decisive action.

Hey there everyone. It’s been a while since I’ve announced a new distro update, the main reason being I had wanted to launch all these new items and restocks with the brand spankin’ new Robotic Empire website launch but things are taking a bit longer then I thought with that. Since I’m not wanting to rush the new store along, I’ve decided to go ahead and list these new additions and restocks and let you guys get at them now. There are so many great albums sitting around here staring me in the face, I couldn’t take it any longer so here’s a full May update for you below. Hopefully the new shopify store will be ready to roll later this month and it’s sure been a long time coming. A new Robotic Empire T-shirt is being designed by Aaron Powers of New Antlers and that will be available when the new store launches!

It’s been a lovely, long and rainy spring up here at Robo HQ. With all that rain there have been some massive road washouts in the area and detours up the wazoo. Here’s a neat video of one of the main washouts in Robo’s area 395 Washout Video Luckily the route I take to the post office when hauling your orders has not been affected.

When that new store launches, it may even be time to start accepting pre-orders on two new Robotic Empire releases for the summer. Thou’s – Peasant 2×12″ is now underway, test presses should be headed to the band soon. A July 14th release date has been set for that one and those guys are going on tour this summer. Peasant will be available at shows and here in the Robotic Empire online store, along with a new Thou T-shirt! More info to come on that as it progresses.

The Big Hush album is currently in production for an August release date and I’m sure we’ll have them in stock long before that warm summer month arrives. Tour dates for Big Hush will be announced soon and I’m hoping to make my way off the mountain and travel to Seattle to see them live. That would certainly make my summer.

Also in related news, Pygmy Lush have written a new album and it’s about to begin mastering with Carl Saff! I’ve heard that tour dates are possible for those guys too, so I’ll keep you informed as I find out.

There are a few other things in the works over here but I’ll save those tidbits for another time. I highly suggest taking a few moments to glance down through the below lists. It would be a waste of time to try and highlight items from this update because pretty much all of it deserves your attention. I’ll just let you read down the lists and head over to the store to pick up any new tunes that strike your fancy.

The wild turkeys are out (waking me up at the crack of ass in the morning with their ridiculous gobbling..) and so are the bears. The elk have moved on to alternate summer grazing grounds now that the bulls have dropped their racks. Summer heat will be here before I know it so I’m making sure to enjoy all the cool and rainy weather hiking around with the pups in search of those elk sheds. So far no luck but things are green and lush and blooming! Please know that any orders you place from this fresh store update are directly funding the new summer Robo releases. Take care, thanks for reading, and your support is seriously appreciated!

Big Hush will be touring this summer and we plan to have these LPs ready for them to take on the road. Release date still TBD but in the meantime you guys can head over to their bandcamp page and give a listen to some amazing tunes. The Robotic Empire vinyl release will combine “Who’s Smoking Your Spirit” and “Wholes” onto one LP along with one additional bonus song.